Collin Sexton, back from an ankle injury, scored 42 points and single-handedly secured the Cleveland Cavaliers' overtime victory (147-135) on Wednesday against the Brooklyn Nets' Big Three ', consisting of Kevin Durant , James Harden and Kyrie Irving.
It was the first time the three Nets stars have played together, following Harden's mid-January transfer to Brooklyn from Houston.
Irving, who missed seven matches for personal reasons and a quarantine imposed after violating anti-Covid protocol, may well end the meeting with 37 points, Harden pull out a triple-double (21 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists) and Durant scoring no less than 38 points and grabbing 12 rebounds, the Cavaliers were too strong in their lair at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse Arena.
"At certain points in the meeting, we seemed a bit lost, which was normal since we had not yet played all together."
Steve nash
Sexton, who improved by one point his previous personal best (41 points scored in March 2020 against Boston), has been every time.
It was he who scored the three-point basket, synonymous with second overtime, one second from the end of first overtime.
The 22-year-old 1.85m full-back then set the tone for Cleveland in second overtime, scoring 15 points in that span including his 5th and final three-point basket 89 seconds from the Mermaid.
“At certain points in the meeting, we seemed a bit lost, which was normal since we had not yet played all together.
So we were reluctant, ”Nets coach Steve Nash explained after the loss.
“We started by losing the ball, six or seven times, especially during the first quarter.
Then we stopped doing it and got back into the game, but obviously we would also have had to defend better.
We still have to take each other into account and it's a process that will surely take us all year. ”
>> READ ALSO: The NBA more and more affected by the cases of Covid-19
This loss, the third since January 5 for the Nets, marked the return of Kyrie Irving, without whom the franchise has won five of their last seven games.
"Yes, we will have great evenings again, yes our nights will become beautiful again, assured the leader, but for that, we must unite this group, learn to make sacrifices for each other and make compromises for our own good. all.
Obviously, he added, it's easier said than done, but I'm confident for the future and looking forward to the next game. ”
In the other matches of the evening, Kristaps Porzingis scored 27 points and captured 13 rebounds in the Dallas Mavericks (124-112) victory over the Pacers in Indiana.
Luka Doncic, for his part, recorded the 30th triple-double of his career (13 pts, 12 rebounds and 12 assists).
Cameroonian 76ers pivot Joel Embiid did as well as Sexton as he also scored 42 points, playing a decisive role in Philadelphia's 15th victory this season (117-109).
The Sixers continue to dominate the Eastern Conference standings.
In the West, the LA Clippers are also still in the lead, after their home victory against Sacramento (115-96).
Finally, it is a three-point basket at the buzzer of Cole Anthony that allowed the Orlando Magic to win over the wire (97-96) at the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Read also
NBA 2020/2021 Ranking